Enjoy Art and History this weekend in the South Loop

Art Walk

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This weekend two events of interest will be taking place in the South Loop. On Saturday, October 12, 2013, South Loop Art Walk gives participants the opportunity to view art, meet artists, and enjoy food and drink specials at participating area restaurants. From 6-9 p.m., art lovers can visit galleries and businesses by following the map, pictured here, or visit any of the locations you’d like. Framing Mode at 1526 S. Wabash Ave. will be celebrating their 10th anniversary in the South Loop featuring a exhibition titled “The Landscape is Changing,” featuring “a group exhibition of original works dedicated to the windy city.” The opening reception is from 6-10 p.m. If the weather is rainy, the Reggies rock bus will be shuttling participants between locations.

Party like it’s 1850!
The Clarke House Museum will be celebrating their third annual Family Day Saturday, October 12, 2013. This family day event will be held at the museum, 1827 S. Indiana Ave. (Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens) from 12-3 p.m. Discover the sights, sounds, and smells of early Chicago and learn about the 1850s as you converse with authentically costumed interpreters. A variety of historic activities and demonstrations will be held throughout the day. Admission is free and so is parking. For more information, call 312-326-1480 (Glessner House Museum Tour Center) or e-mail info@clarkehousemuseum.org. You can like Clarke House on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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South Loop Roundup

It's Spring, Right?
This week the weather turned downright wintry. I couldn’t believe I was wearing earmuffs and down in mid-April. Still, I was out and about in and around the South Loop where there were some interesting sights to see.

The wood exterior of Gioco is sanded down

Closed for Renovations
Gioco's reopening date is a bit unclear, but what is clear is the space is getting a makeover. Workers were sanding down the wood exterior this morning. They updated the message on the restaurant’s answering machine; it says they’re closed temporarily for remodeling. This is an improvement over the previous message that said they didn’t know when they were reopening or why they were closed in the first place. The signs outside the restaurant and the new phone message encourage us to visit Gioco’s Web site, but it still hasn’t been updated to reflect the closure or renovations. Here’s hoping Gioco opens soon.

Construction is underway at Roosevelt and Wabash

Trader Joe's to Open in 2011
There are some rumors around town that the opening of the new Trader Joe’s coming to Roosevelt Rd. and Wabash Ave. has been delayed. I thought I’d contact Trader Joe’s corporate offices to check on the progress. In an e-mail response to my query they said, “We do not currently have a date set but are hoping for late this year [2011].” Not sure that clears things up, but the assumption from the start was that the store wouldn’t be open before the fall of this year.

Printers Row in bloom

Walking near Printer’s Row, I saw this burst of spring and had to take a picture of it. The day was cold and a bit blustery, but this flowering tree was in full bloom.

Just another bus on the sidewalk

Bus Stop, Bus Stop
It isn’t every day that you see a bus on the sidewalk, but this one parked at  the correctional facility on Clark and Van Buren.

The fountain at Chicago Women's Park and Garden

Bubbling Up
Buckingham isn't the only fountain in the city. The fountain at Chicago Women's Park and Gardens is open for the season and bubbling forth in the shadow of the Clarke House Museum.

Kiosk Marks Prairie Avenue Attractions

Marker for Historic Prairie Avenue
A new kiosk was installed on 18th Street in the courtyard separating the Glessner House Museum from the South Loop field house and Cafe Society.

The kiosk highlights some of the historic Prairie Ave. mansions still standing, as well as the Clarke House, Chicago's oldest home, and Chicago's Women's Park and Gardens. The kiosk makes it easy for visitors and neighbors alike to take self-guided tours of the area.

Glessner and Clarke houses decorated for the holidays through January 3, 2010

See the Glessner and Clarke houses decorated in appropriate 19th century holiday decor. 

The oldest house in Chicago all dressed up

Decorations in the Clarke house reflect the emerging holiday customs of the mid-1800s, including a small tabletop evergreen tree decorated with cranberries, clove-studded oranges and gold-painted walnuts.  The house will be set to receive New Year's Day callers, as that holiday was more popular in the mid-1800s for visiting friends and family.

Prairie Ave. landmark

The Glessner house will be decorated in the grand Victorian style of a well-to-do family of the 1880s.  Decorations include a large tree hung with vintage glass and paper ornaments, stairways draped in pine garland, and the dining room table elegantly set for the Christmas feast.

All of the above can be seen during regular tours of both houses.

Chicago history in our backyard

The Clarke and Glessner houses are important Chicago landmarks. The Clarke House is the oldest house in Chicago and it was built and inhabited by the Clarke family, early Chicago pioneers who saw the Chicago wilderness as a land of opportunity and prosperity.

Marshall Field, Philip Armour, and George Pullman too!

The Glessner House is one of the few remaining mansions on Prairie Ave. In the nineteenth century, Prairie Ave. was home to Chicago's richest men: Marshall Field, Philip Armour, and George Pullman, were the riches residents along Chicago's original gold coast. John and Frances Glessner were very active and influential in Prairie Ave. society. Both Glessners were founding members of the Chicago Symphony. The helped recruit the first conductor, Theodore Thomas. The also raised funds to build Orchestra Hall on S. Michigan Ave.

If you want to learn more about Chicago and Prairie Ave. history, consider purchasing Chicago's Historic Prairie Avenue by William Tyre, executive director of the Glessner House Museum. The book is available from Amazon.com and the Glessner House bookstore.

Festival on Prairie Ave.

The Festival on Prairie Ave. took place on Saturday September 12, 2009, from noon to 6 p.m. There was plenty to see and do for children and adults, including a petting zoo, Daniel Burnham exhibit, and tours of the Glessner and Clark houses.

Sponsored by the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance (PDNA), the annual block party was held at Prairie Ave. at 18th St. Other activities were held at Chicago Women's Park, adjacent to Prairie Ave., including a tug-of-war contest, potato sack races, and obstacle course sponsored by the Illinois National Guard.

Festival on Prairie Ave. this Saturday

The Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance (PDNA) invites you to the Festival on Prairie Ave. (Prairie at 18th St.) Saturday September 12, 2009. The festival hours are noon to 6 p.m.

Billed as "a day of fun for the whole family," the event will include activities for children, musical performances, emcee and humorist Stuart Jackson, and tours of the Glessner and Clarke houses. Food will be provided by Cafe Society during the festival. A $5 food ticket will get you a choice of hamburger, hot dogs, brat, veggie burger, with chips and a drink. Cafe Society will also have other items available from their regular menu.
Festival tickets are $7 (entrance donation). Children 12 months and under free will be admitted free of charge. For more information, including information on volunteering, visit the PDNA Web site.